The Belize Audubon Society is a conservation group in

Belize Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...

, formed in 1969. Like similar societies elsewhere, it is named in honor of ornithologist and naturalist John James Audubon.

History

The Belize Audubon Society was formed in 1969 by Dora Weyer and a group of conservationists. The Society was formed with a vision to inspire people to live in harmony with and benefit from the environment. The first president of the Belize Audubon Society, James A. Waight, served from 1969 until 1986. He was born in Belize City and was the Surveyor General of Belize. His dedication to the Belize Audubon Society is honored by an annual award for services to conservation in Belize called the James A. Waight Award. The Belize Audubon Society aims at conserving and protecting wildlife in

for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. In 1973 the society's first launched conservation project, the Jabiru Stork, was added to Belize's list of protected species.

Board of directors

The responsibilities of the Board of Directors of the Belize Audubon Society include policy setting, fiscal guidance, and governance of the society. The Board is composed of 15 voluntary members. These members are elected from general membership during the Annual General Meeting, which is held no later than May 31 of each year. The following officers make up the board: * President * 1st Vice President * 2nd Vice President * 1st Secretary * 2nd Secretary * 8 Directors.

Laws Governing BAS

The laws of Belize that govern the operation of the Belize Audubon Society and the conservation efforts of this society are as follows: * Wildlife Protection Act (Chp.220) * National Parks System Act (Chp.215) * Forest Act (Chp.213) * Fisheries Act (Chp.210) * Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act (Chp.330 Rev.2000)

Protected Areas

The Belize Audubon Society co-manages seven protected areas located in Belize. These protected areas are: * Blue Hole Natural Monument *

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature reserve in the Stann Creek District of south-central Belize. It was established to protect the forests, fauna and watersheds of an approximately area of the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. ...

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary Crooked Tree Wild Life Sanctuary (CTWS) is a protected area in Belize. It is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance. It was designated as a waterfowl habitat on April 22, 1998, under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. During Belize' ...

* Guanacaste National Park * Half Moon Caye Natural Monument * St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park *

Victoria Peak Victoria Peak is a hill on the western half of Hong Kong Island. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak only generally. With an elevation of , it is the highest hill on Hong Kong Island, ranked 29 in terms of elevation in Ho ...

Natural Monument

James A. Waight Award

The James A. Waight award is presented on February 16 each year to individuals or organizations in recognition for their work in the protection and enhancement of Belize's natural environment. The award is named after the Belize Audubon Society's first president.

Selection Criteria

Nominees of the award must meet the following criteria: * Must be a Belizean or currently reside in Belize. * Members of the Belize Audubon Society are preferred. Otherwise nominee must be involved in work directly related to the environment. * Nominee must be involved in rainforest protection, coastal zone protection, pollution control, waste management, eco tourism promotion and the socioeconomic environment, indigenous rights, and socio-cultural protection. * The efforts of the nominees must be national in scope, have a human dimension, and be innovative or non-traditional.

References

External links

Official website
Audubon movement Nature conservation in Belize Non-profit organisations based in Belize {{Belize-stub